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Sunday, August 30, 2015

I discovered today that the fine folks at CD Baby have put all the songs from my 1997 album How Many Lifetimes? on Youtube—which means I can share the music right here, starting with the title track. Enjoy! (And if you're interested in buying the album, just hop over to the Creation Point music page.)

It's strange the way things work out. Jerry Siegel once said that Clark Kent was made a reporter simply because he always assumed he would become one. However, it is the perfect job for Kent, since it is both a very alien and human job.

On the alien side the job is simply to observe the human race and not let emotions cloud your judgement, however talking to people and writing is all about interaction with humans in some form.

Dematteis, are you saying we should destroy the whole of the universe? Because that sounds like a whole thing.

Also, did you hear? There is talk of a Blue Beetle and Booster Gold buddy cop type film by the Flash guys (I don't know if that is good or bad). It would clearly be DC's attempt to have something in line with Deadpool, which in turn is probably just Fox's way to have its own Guardians of the Galaxy, but still, I would actually go see that.

I just hope that if the movie does progress hat they use Ted. I've got nothing against the new kid, and I suppose they could always just write him as Ted, but that crazy suit of his... I'm not sure it would work as well. Plus... I miss Ted. I suppose that what it really comes down to, I miss him. And someone (I won't name any names in case they accidentally wind up on this site) has not been using him as much as he could in JL3K1.

There was just something so... bitter... about the way they killed Ted of, and that goes for Sue Dinby the year earlier as well. Killing off a character known for fun or humor just to have a body count, just leaves me a bit cold in terms of comics at times.

I figured I would get some classic hippie comic-veteran insights on the death of lighter characters just too... whatever.

As for good old Ted, he would be replaced for several reasons, not the least of which is because Jamie is the current Blue Beetle, and that is who they would want front in center since he could be used in more projects... and of course there is the fact that he was the one in Batman: Brave and the Bold and that Young Justice show. Combine that with the fact that only real nerds know anything about Blue Beetle or have any connection to any of them, well...

You want another insight, assuming that you can hold back your darker views?

What is happening in comics these days is artistic/social gentrification, it is not the first time either. It happened to Hippies, punks, Sci-fi, fantasy, and a few more.

Now how about some thoughts on that... your angry angry thoughts.

Jack

P.S. speaking of Ted Kord, where i he in Justice League 3001? I did make it clear I missed him, right?

Beetle and Booster were in issue #3, fighting Giant Turtle Olsen. As for what the future holds...only time (and Giffen's demented imagination) will tell.

The very fact that they're making a Beetle and Booster movie means that the pairing has some cache. I suspect that, if they use Jaimie, they'll be grafting Ted's personality, and the Beetle-Booster dynamic we established, onto him/them. Plus, by using Jaimie, they have a Latino hero, which isn't a bad thing.

I have no dark thoughts today, just rotten allergies that make it hard to keep my eyes open. I've been drugged by Cosmic Pollen!

A Latino hero is nice, but what about pudgy out of shape heroes? That is a way more underrepresented group in superheroes. And that is Ted.

I have nothing against Jamie. I have only read a hand full of stories since I am not a huge fan of teenage characters, but he seemed like an interesting character and the stories were fun. I just resnt that they had to kill Ted off to do it. There are 86 Flashes, 300 Earth-bound Green Lanterns, an attempt to make Batman into a corporation in every country, but 2 blue beetles would be too confusing for people. Weird.

As For Justice LEague 3001.. that was a month ago Dematteis. Is one appearance really enough of team Blue and Gold? If the movie does get green-lit though, my guess is that yop guys might get an offer to write a movie prequel, or mini-series for the two.

Quick clarification. My point about Comics being gentrified (Still hoping for your unique thought) was about its relationship with other media and perception. It had nothing to do with Jamie Reyes. I think that comes across, but I just want to make it known that I have no problem with new characters, especially ones with more unique stories like Mr. Reyes.

Hope the allergies clear up, I know that game (though mine are usually epidermal irritations and in early-early Spring). They're rarely fun

My allergies hit me every which way...including totally fogging up my mind, which is why I can't really muster a deep conversation about anything right now. But maybe we can talk about Comic Book Gentrification another time.

And, yes, Jaimie is a fun character. And, yes, there's certainly room in the world for more than one Blue Beetle. In a couple of weeks there'll be two Flashes on the FLASH TV show and I'm sure the audience will be able to handle it!

I'm no stranger to physical ailments clogging up the mind. Hope things eve out for you sooner rather than later. Until then I will wait until the theoretical may-sort-of-maybe-not day when the discussion occurs.

If TV audiences can handle it comic fans should sure as Hell be able to get it. look at all the weird stuff we accept as normal part of storytelling,.

Sorry to hear about the allergies. I find a nice piece of fresh ginger steeped in boiling water for ten minutes and a little honey added afterwards tends to help a lot with those issues. Oh, and yes, Long Live Ted Kord!

I'm not saying it's a good idea, but it's comics. EVERYONE comes back from the dead eventually. Except for Uncle Ben. But, then, we never thought Bucky would come back either, did we? And I killed Aunt May pretty dead.

It seems we finally found were the hippie's cynicism lies. To be fair, comics may not last long enough to have very many people resurrected.

However, I do think that Marvel likes having that story they can point to and say it is not only a thoughtful death but one that bucks the norm. That having been said, if Mar-vell shows up in a movie, all bets are off.

Not cynicism, just awareness of how these things go. There ARE certain characters that, I think, will remain dead forever -- Uncle Ben, Bruce Wayne's parents -- but for everyone else, anything's possible.

You couldn't just let me have this one win and be cynical, could you Dematteis?I do 99.999999999% agree with you though. Hell they even tried to bring back Krypton a few years ago. Maybe it is love for the story though, or just the fact he is too connected with one decade of comics, but I do think Mar-vell will be an acceptation... at least for a good while.

Come to think of it, resurrecting a victim of suicide by firearm only feels in only slightly poorer taste. Isn't the whole reason Marvel gives is that Mar-Vell's death is too much in the real world, and most people who die that way don't get to sit back up?

Glad I didn't read Spider-man when that happened. That is a real uncomfortable realization.

I thought that Kraven's resurrection was handled very well, Jack, and that "Grim Hunt" was a terrific story. Would I have preferred that the Hunter stayed dead? Sure. But if he had to come back, I'm glad they handled it so well.

I wouldn't know, spider-Man has been dead to me for a while, so I did not read it. However no matter how well done it was is not really the point.

Marvel has drawn a line in he stand saying that resurrecting Mar-Vell would be problematic, in part because of how many people people lose someone that way in real life and don't get to have them miraculously comeback. They have said there is a difference between this death and the usual kind they write about.

The fact is, cancer is not the only thing that cuts into people and leaves unique and deep wounds. What's more it is an even more unique, complicated and complex act.

maybe it is because Kraven was a villain or the story did not show the effects on those close to him (and it shouldn't have, it was not that type of story). Maybe it is the stigma at the mere thoughts and contempt felt by many towards it or because comics like most mediums rarely spotlight this effectively/properly. it is difficult.

The uncomfortable fact isn't that they did. These are there characters, and more importantly fictional characters. I mean, you mentioned Uncle Ben, is any Father figure that devoid of flaw? Or the fact that he is arguable the only good father figure left in comics. Weird things happen in comics, we accept that it is not a mirror of reality, but to give one type of action excessive care and thought and not the other raises some questions, not about Marvel or comics, but about our society.